Classical Archeology of Ancient Greece and Rome

While most fields of study—history, science, music, philosophy, etc.—seem to have existed since ancient times—archeology ostensibly began at the bottom of a well in the middle of a field outside of Naples, Italy on Wednesday, October 22, 1738, after the new monarch, Spain's Charles III, sent an army engineer down a 70-foot well, resulting in the discovery of the city of Herculaneum, buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius almost 1,700 years earlier. The find would spawn a detailed book logging the exact location of each item, its geographical context, and maps of the tunnels in which the crew dug, as well as the positions of pillars, steps, and other artifacts, allowing for the reconstruction of a surrounding theatre. What really captured the public mind, however, was the human element of what the ash had buried and sealed (the bread found on the table, the woman holding her jewelry box, the person at the locked gate with the key still clutched in hand). In Classical Archeology of Ancient Greece and Rome, the University of Louisville's John Hale presents 36 lectures, taking viewers on an historical tour through 12 important excavations (at Olympia, Delphi, Rome, and Bath, among other locales), while illustrating how ancient life can be reconstructed from physical evidence found at archeological sites, before concluding with the fall of the Roman Empire and a discussion of the ways in which the Greeks and Romans had a major influence on our lives. Hale is an enthusiastic and passionate presenter for this fascinating series (with separately available course books including lecture outlines, transcripts, maps, a timeline, glossary, and bibliography), which is sure to be a welcome addition for high school and academic libraries, as well as a solid choice for public libraries serving adult learners. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (L. Stevens)